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The C5 and C6 front calipers use the same diameter 40.5mm pistons. The C6 caliper is claimed to be approximately 25% more rigid than the C5 and about .16 pounds heavier due additional material across the bridge.
Regarding the rear calipers, the C6 Z51 units have smaller 42.5mm pistons vs 45mm on C6 base and C5. The caliper bodies appear the same in size and shape.
The C5 and C6 front calipers use the same diameter 40.5mm pistons. The C6 caliper is claimed to be approximately 25% more rigid than the C5 and about .16 pounds heavier due additional material across the bridge.
Regarding the rear calipers, the C6 Z51 units have smaller 42.5mm pistons vs 45mm on C6 base and C5. The caliper bodies appear the same in size and shape.
Thanks for adding to the thread & for a better picture than what I had.
I ordered the brackets today from an online gmpartscenter.net place in AZ. to get them faster than east coast only to get an email that they had to order the brackets from gm, chit.
Now for some 13.4 rotors & done. The caliper looks beefier & I am hoping will be "just right" for what I do. Like the Goldilocks & 3 bears - just right.
Who has some good 13.4 blanks for a budget "medium brake kit"
It is my understanding that c5, c5z, c6 base, c6z51, all use the same pad backing plate & thickness, yes/no?
froggy, from all my reading and research over the past few months that is my understanding.
Great thread going here!! Thanks for the video as well....always love your vids!!
These pictured below seem popular choice from what I've heard and read. The description says "directional vanes" but I'm guessing it only means they are curved in a direction since they are not available for purchase as specific left and right. From word of mouth, posts from CF members and reading these may be the value proposition most consistent with your direction of upgrade.
The C5 and C6 front calipers use the same diameter 40.5mm pistons. The C6 caliper is claimed to be approximately 25% more rigid than the C5 and about .16 pounds heavier due additional material across the bridge.
Regarding the rear calipers, the C6 Z51 units have smaller 42.5mm pistons vs 45mm on C6 base and C5. The caliper bodies appear the same in size and shape.
The more I look at these pics side by side the design and thickness is clearly more robust at both "shoulders" on the c6z51, Since my caliper spread was almost hard to measure, I feel this new design will probably take caliper spread right out of the equation, hopefully the leverage from the bigger rotor will give me more "feel" in the brakes that I'm looking for.
I'd just like to add here that the stock Z51 rotors are NOT ok for track use. I've cracked two sets of them. Auto-X is probably fine, but if you run them on the track for extended sessions (45+ min) they will crack around the holes from heat fatigue. Blanks are probably better to be honest, I think the holes weaken the structure somehow.
Drilled? Correct, its never recommended to run drilled rotors on track.
I am planning on using my stock brake lines 60k miles & no issues, easy to change later if I choose to. I know some swear by the steel braid covered lines, I always felt it was more of a big track safety thing more than anything else. Remember this is 35% street, 65% autox, 5% hpde.
Since I'm putting together this budget brake upgrade, I really can't justify replacing them just "because".
Some of the real BBK's required AN lines - so that was another expense I chose to avoid.
I was looking forward to bolting all this together, but after talking with yet another very helpful high perf. shop I decided that it was not enough of a gain over the stock c5 sliders to make it worth while.
Yes it would help the caliper spread issue, but the braking power gain was in the 5% (better brake torque) according to the shop. Due mostly to moving the pad out a little on the bigger rotor, "leverage". The bigger rotors are, of course, quite a bit heavier, say 3-5 lbs depending on mfg (each).
Now this might have been enough to get thru the rest of autox season, but then again might not. So far as comp. "edge".
So I stepped back from the plan, but I do think it's could be worthwhile & a fun project. Parts are all reasonable & available but you have to source them one by one, there is no "kit".
I'm on the other coast (Florida) but was planning on picking up the bracket/rotor parts for track use and One Lap. I didn't really plan on doing the caliper but may be interested in buying the parts off you if you aren't going to use them now. Feel free to shoot me a PM if you'd like to discuss.
I'm on the other coast (Florida) but was planning on picking up the bracket/rotor parts for track use and One Lap. I didn't really plan on doing the caliper but may be interested in buying the parts off you if you aren't going to use them now. Feel free to shoot me a PM if you'd like to discuss.
05-21-2015, 10:23 PM
C5 front caliper (left) C6 front caliper (right)
